The football manager Joe Kinnear once left a message on his answering machine saying: “I’m out at the moment, but should you be the chairman of Barcelona, AC Milan or Real Madrid, I’ll get straight back to you.”

Sean Holley has been off the rugby coaching radar since parting company with Bristol in the summer.

Has he considered recording a similar message with Toulon, Racing Metro and Saracens replacing Barcelona, AC Milan and Real Madrid?

Er, not really.

The former Ospreys coach is probably too busy to even contemplate such a challenge, given his radio and television commitments.

A regular on the BBC’s live match coverage on a Friday evening, he also pops up on Scrum V on a Sunday and has a show on Nation Radio.

Coaching? It’s debatable whether there are enough hours in the day.

So what next for the man who went separate ways with Bristol RFC in the summer?

“No, in that I am quite happy with what I have done. I was part of a successful Ospreys set-up for nine years; I had a short period at the Scarlets where I was part of a team that delivered six wins out of seven; I was involved in the Wales coaching group when two Tests were won in North America in 2009; I guided Bristol to the top of the Championship three seasons running, eventually winning promotion.

“So I don’t think I have had a bad coaching career.

“But, of course, I wouldn’t be human if I didn’t miss those big European games that I used to be involved in with the Ospreys. Working at that level of sport is a special experience that anyone would relish.

“I’m in no rush to hurry back. Whatever I do would have to suit me in terms of my life.

“I will say, though, I enjoyed working with Lynn Howells and the Romanian national side for a short spell and I know Phil Davies has had great fun in charge of Namibia.”

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Wales' new backs coach?

Andrew Hore once said during his time at the Ospreys that he expected Holley to be involved full-time with Wales at some point, but there have been few opportunities under the long-running Warren Gatland regime.

That said, Matt Sherratt has been taken on board as backs coach for the autumn campaign.

Holley worked with him at Bristol. Does he rate him?

“Matt is a good coach and a good bloke,” he said.

“He also has good coaches to work with in the likes of Rob Howley and Neil Jenkins.”

Matt Sherratt has joined Wales

Wales need three wins this autumn

He continued: “How do I see the autumn series going? My guess is people will say that Wales have to be looking at three wins for it to be considered a success — against Japan, Argentina, which won’t be easy, and either Australia or South Africa.

“Undoubtedly, Rob is in the box seat to succeed Warren in 2019.

“Of course, people will be looking closely at how he does in the coming months, which will create added pressure, but Rob has been in the game long enough to deal with that. As a coach, it is something you learn to live with.

“Let’s hope it works out well for him.”

Rob Howley during training

Big-name signings needed at regions

Holley keeps a close eye on events at his old region, the Ospreys.

“I am not totally sure they have got their overseas signings right,” he said.

“Perhaps the same can be said for the other regions as well.

“But that is no doubt linked to the financial situation in Wales, which has changed over the years.

“For me, the ideal is to have a sprinkling of world-class imports to go with a core of home-grown players, a Viv Richards and a Joel Garner to add to the set-up, say. Ulster have recruited Charles Piutau to a squad that already has Ruan Pienaar. That’s what the Welsh regions are up against.

“That said, you have to applaud all the young talent the Ospreys are bringing through in guys like Olly Cracknell, Sam Underhill, Sam Davies, Daf Howells, Nicky Smith and others. It’s going to be great to see how those boys go over the next few years.”